Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!apple!portal!cup.portal.com!FelineGrace
From: FelineGrace@cup.portal.com (Dana B Bourgeois)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.ps2.hardware
Subject: Re: Memory and Disk Drives
Message-ID: <41863@cup.portal.com>
Date: 1 May 91 05:43:13 GMT
References: <1991Apr29.182209.23333@ncsu.edu>
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Lines: 34

Concerning add-ons to PS-2 machines...

IBM doesn't make it easy to upgrade with non-IBM parts but it is possible.
For memory, contact your dealer and find out how much memory you can
put on the motherboard.  Model 50 is 2 MB I think and most others are
4 MB or more.  Open up your machine and see if the memory slots are all
filled.  If they are then you are:
  1. out of luck because you have the max on the motherboard
or
  2. lucky and unlucky.
Filled slots with less than full memory means you have to take out all
the memory (SIMMS) and replace them with larger capacity ones.  Remove
two 256K SIMMS and replace them with 1MB SIMMS for example.  This depends
on what the motherboard was designed to handle and newer ones can utilize
the larger capacity SIMMS (which now are up to 4MB each).  But I don't
know what each model can handle except in general.  Your dealer should be
able to look it up and tell you.  I've seen the book.

If your memory slots are not all filled then good news!  Just buy more.
They install by pushing them into the slots (with the power off) but
you will have to run the set-up programs again.  Otherwise the system
will either ignore your memory or give an error code on boot-up.  (I'm
full of generalities because I have skimmed the books but never done
this.  Be Warned.)  If your motherboard memory capacity is filled, then
you must buy a memory add-in board.  It must be a Micro-channel board
unless you have a model 25 or 30 which have ISA (XT-type) bus.  You buy
the board based on manufacturer (name brand or not) and maximum memory
capacity(more costs more) and speed (faster costs more).  Most manufact-
urers give you a choice of 0MB up to the maximum at purchase.  Up to
your wallet.

Good luck.

Dana Bourgeois @ cup.portal.com